How to visit the local island in Maldives, Fulidhoo? Budget island with white sand beaches, the bluest water we have ever seen and sting rays and sharks coming close to the water edge, making it one of the most budget-friendly natural paradises in the Maldives. Until today, we are blown away by its beauty, authenticity and wild feel, and we still hope to visit this island again. 

We visited Fulidhoo in October, during our two weeks travelling around the local islands of Maldives. It was a rainy season, and true that it was raining almost every day for a while, but it didn’t change the fact of how mesmerizing this island is. Half the size of the first island we visited, Dhiffushi, but very rich in things you can experience. 

WHY SHOULD YOU COME TO FULIDHOO

More reasons come to my mind for why you should visit Fulidhoo, but the sea animals are the most interesting one, at least for me. Not every day you walk along the white sand coast and see sharks or tens of sting rays a few steps away from you. This is how it really is in Fulidhoo; the sea life is unbelievably rich. You walk on the small dock, and you spot colourful fish, sting rays or sharks peacefully swimming around every day. 

The island is tiny, only 600 m long and 200 m wide, but it is a local island where you can see the daily life of Maldivian people. They come to pray at the colourful mosque, or if you are lucky, you’ll witness Maldivian dances and songs in the culture centre. The authenticity of this island is guaranteed. 

Fulidhoo island is budget-friendly, many cheap hotels can be found here. All of them are of good quality, clean and with breakfast included. You can expect to pay from $50 per night, including breakfast for two people. It is not as cheap as the budget hotels in Dhiffushi, where we stayed in the hotel for $30, including breakfast and dinner, but it is a more tropical and wild, paradise-like island. 

Tip: Search for cheap flights to the Maldives from Abu Dhabi that WizzAir offers. Our return ticket cost only $200!

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HOW TO GET TO FULIDHOO

From Malé or Maafushi 

You can choose between the public ferry, which is slower but also much cheaper. It goes 3 hours 20 minutes and costs 53 MVR ($3.4). Or, a speed boat that goes 1 hour and a few minutes and costs from $40. Both options leave from Hulhumalé Ferry Terminal in Malé at 10am. Speed boat runs every day, and your hotel can book it for you, or you can buy the ticket at the terminal. However, you risk it might be fully booked if you wait till last minute. 

We opted for a public ferry, and it was an awesome adventure. The ferry operates every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday at 10am from Malé and 11:30am from Maafushi. Maafushi is the only stop before the ferry reaches Fulidhoo at 1:20pm.

This public ferry continues to other islands such as Thinadhoo, Felidhoo, Keyodhoo and Rakeedhoo; you can also check if those islands are interesting for you in case you want to explore further. 

From Fulidhoo back to Malé/Maafushi

To return from Fulidhoo, the ferry leaves every Saturday, Monday and Wednesday at 10:45am and reaches Maafushi at 12:25pm and Malé at 2:05pm. We had one day left in our itinerary, so we decided to hop off in Maafushi and spend the last night in the Maldives there. Is it worth it to visit Maafushi island in the Maldives? The price for a ticket is 53 MVR ($3.4), no matter where you hop off.

The transportation options between Malé – Maafushi are frequent, so if you miss the boat, you can try to book a private transport or find another boat that might go in that direction. And from Maafushi, if you miss the connecting boat, there are daily tours to Fulidhoo, so you could go with them to get to the island. This way, it would be more hassle and money, but you would eventually get there the same day. 

From Dhiffushi to Fulidhoo

If you follow our two weeks Maldivian itinerary and go from Dhiffushi, it is super easy as those islands have the perfect connection by public ferry. Take an early public ferry from Dhiffushi to Malé at 6:30am. You’ll arrive in Malé at 8:40am (expect +- 30 minutes delay on arrival). From Malé, take a public ferry to Fulidhoo at 10am. You will arrive at Fulidhoo at 1:20pm. See the information above.  

Essential reading: Dhiffushi island: Travel Maldives on budget, $39 per day!

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BEST TIME TO VISIT 

The main season in Maldives is roughly between November and April. You can expect many tourists to come to Maldives as it is the dry season and holiday season for many. Hotel prices are at least double than in the off-season. 

We visited the Maldives in October, which is considered a rainy season. However, mostly we had sunny days. In Dhiffushi, we didn’t experience any rain. In Fulidhoo, it was different. The island is more tropical and remote; it has been raining every day for some time. The storm came quickly but also quickly left. We didn’t mind, as it was refreshing and adventurous and was still warm. If we come to Maldives again, we will come in the off-season. It means coming between the beginning of May and the end of October, right before the main season comes/ends.

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FOOD IN FULIDHOO

Restaurants 

Fulidhoo is a small island, but there are some good restaurant options. Prices are around double of Malé or Dhiffushi. You can expect to get local dishes such as Mas Huni (a mix of tuna, coconut, lime and onion, served with roti) or Kottu (a mix of roti, tuna, egg, veggies and spices). You can also get western food such as pizza, burgers, fries & more. Some restaurants serve fresh fish. The most popular western & local restaurants are Cafe de Orzo or Shells. 

For authentic and the cheapest local eatery, head to Dream Hut Fulidhoo. Many locals come and eat there. It was our favourite place to eat. 

Your hotel will have breakfast included, and you usually get to choose between continental or Maldivian breakfast. Make sure you try Maldivian breakfast – Mas Huni, described above, as it is absolutely delicious. 

Grocery stores 

There are two stores in Fulidhoo. The main store with the biggest selection of goods is on the main street. However, don’t expect a big luxury. The selection depends on delivery, and sometimes there was just a few packages of bread left. There are some Indian snacks, chips, cans, sometimes pastries, some fruit & veggies and drinks. You can indeed survive by buying your own food instead of eating out.

Same as in Dhiffushi, there is a lack of tropical fruit on Fulidhoo. Resort islands pay more money to get the fruit, but small local islands rely on what is delivered. It is usually melon, bananas, apples and oranges. However, papayas and similar were hard to find. You might get fruit for breakfast, depending on the quality of your hotel. 

Alcohol 

Fulidhoo is a local island with most of the population being Sunni Muslims. Religion is a big thing in Maldives, which is not different on this island. There is no possibility of buying alcohol. If you want to drink alcoholic beverages in the Maldives, you must head to resort islands or some more luxurious hotel, where they have a license to sell it. 

There are also souvenir shops selling towels, flip flops, some clothes, postcards, and many kinds of souvenirs. 

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BEST THINGS TO DO IN FULIDHOO

The reason number one why we came to Fulidhoo is obvious. It’s the wilderness and sea creatures coming so close to the shore you can basically look them in the eyes. We are glad that Fulidhoo island lived up to its expectations, as our visit surely didn’t disappoint us. Opposite, we left so surprised by the natural beauty and tropical vibes that we would visit this island again if we had a chance! 

The remote location and no other island in plain sight were other reasons that attracted us to visit Fulidhoo. Here, you can experience the real castaway feeling, as Fulidhoo is the northernmost island in Vaavu Atoll. There is only one main street on the island, and you can walk around the whole island in less than 30 minutes! Those are our top picks on what to do while on the island: 

IT’S ABOUT SEA ANIMALS 

The best part about Fulidhoo is how many animals you see in the water daily. It is not about luck if you see them. It is absolutely guaranteed you spot them, as tens of sting rays chill under the dock, as well as sharks coming frequently and many kinds of colourful fish. It’s their home as they are used to fishermen feeding them daily. 

When to see sting rays and sharks 

The best time to see groups of sting rays and sharks is before 10am because around 11am, tour boats from Maafushi come, and many people are everywhere for about half an hour – hour. Then it gets quiet again. These tours are a bit annoying, but the good thing is that they last just a few minutes. Another great time is around 8.30pm when the fishermen come again to feed them. The animals know about it, so they come close to the shore every day for their feast. If you want to avoid being there with other people come already at 8pm, they are already swimming around. 

Is it safe to swim in Fulidhoo? 

Absolutely! Sting rays are used to people; they even approach you and touch your legs – no issues. About sharks: most are nurse sharks, and they are not dangerous to humans unless you provoke them and they feel they need to protect themselves. Reef shark is another kind of shark you can spot; they also mind their own business, and mostly you see just baby reef sharks. 

What animals can you spot on Fulidhoo? 

Except for the sea creatures I just mentioned, you will see tons of colourful fish, crabs, birds and bats. You can also take a tour that takes you to snorkel with manta rays, dolphins or whale sharks. 

Tip: Come for an evening walk to the dock, there is a light pointing to the sea, and you can spot many colourful fish, sharks and sting rays in full beauty.

DIVE INTO LOCAL CULTURE

Seeing the local culture is something you won’t experience on resort islands. Here, in Fulidhoo, you see the real Maldivian life. That’s why local islands are so interesting. You see locals going to pray in the island’s only colourful mosque. The contrast is fascinating; you lie on the beach and listen to the prayer call. Head to the cultural centre opposite the dock around 8:30pm, and you might be lucky to witness a local band playing instruments, dancing and singing traditional Maldivian songs. This performance is for people coming to the island on tour, and they have one hour stop on Fulidhoo for these dances and music shows. 

Many locals go daily to a local restaurant, Dream Hut. Otherwise, just walk around the island, see what’s happening around, and stop by friendly locals to chat and enjoy your time in Fulidhoo. You can also watch locals playing (volley)ball games at the sports ground. 

RELAX ON THE BEACH

There is a Bikini Beach in Fulidhoo, where you can wear a bikini. Otherwise, you should respect the culture since Fulidhoo is a local island. Maldivians are mostly Sunni Muslims, following a dress code, especially women who usually wear niqab or hijab. You, as a tourist, just make sure you don’t walk in a swimsuit in local parts and wear appropriate clothes. 

The beach in Fulidhoo is the first-class beach. It’s fair to say we have never seen a more beautiful beach anywhere else in the world. White sand, blue water and palms line the island all around. It is truly a tropical paradise. There are sun beds free to use.

TAKE A SNORKELLING TOUR

If you should do one tour while in the Maldives, make sure you do it from Fulidhoo. Visibility in water and the rich wildlife guarantee a perfect experience. You can take a snorkelling tour, where guys take you to some good spots where you can see a lot of fish, turtles and possibly manta rays. Or, take a tour to shark point. You can borrow snorkelling gear from the tour operator or optionally buy one in Malé after you arrive on your first day. We bought ours in Malé, on Chaandhanee Magu street, for $16.

TAKE A TOUR TO SHARK POINT 

Shark point is where many nurse sharks gather, and you can jump into the open sea from the boat and swim with these gentle species. They are harmless to people, so you can be calm and watch the show of tens of sharks swimming around you. If you stay in Fulidhoo Ihaa Lodge (see the section Where to stay in Fulidhoo below), you can borrow an underwater camera (GoPro) and create your footage in case you don’t have your own. The price of both snorkelling tours is $40-$50 per person. We recommend you take this tour as it looks epic from the photos we saw. We didn’t go, because the weather was too harsh and we already saw it in Belize.

STING RAYS AND SHARKS FEEDING

We all came to Fulidhoo for the same reason. Animals. Locals bring fresh fish for sting rays in the evening around 8:30pm. It is known on the island, so more tourists come to see it from the dock. It takes roughly 15 minutes. But the animals, including a lot of huge nurse sharks, hang out around the dock already after sunset. Just observe what is under the pier. 

We personally enjoyed it more when we just came and watched the animals alone. But surely, it’s an interesting show to see so many creatures close to the shore. Other tours you can take are to sandbank, a luxury resort island or borrow a kayak, and more. 

SWING YOURSELF

Many beach swings are hanging down the palm trees. They’re all free to use. Ideal if you brought a book and search for some quality alone time. Those swings are basically everywhere; just walk around the shore until you spot some. 

SUNRISE OR SUNSET WATCHING

Sunrise and sunset watching, together with the Fulidhoo’s remoteness, make for romantic times. The best sunset-watching spot is on west bikini beach. However, during our time, we weren’t lucky with either sunset or sunrise as the storm was always approaching and blocking the view; it was still very pretty, though.

TRY MALDIVIAN FOOD

We fell in love with Mas Huni, the traditional Maldivian breakfast consisting of tuna, coconut, lime, onion, roti, and egg. Absolute deliciousness. Most hotels serve this for breakfast, so eventually, you’ll try it anyway. Head to one of the restaurants in Fulidhoo and try fresh fish, Kottu or fish curry. 

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TRAVEL INSURANCE 

Travel insurance is an essential part of any travel. And it is not different when coming to Maldives. It is optional to have one when coming to Maldives. However, you need to protect yourself in an emergency, which would be really pricey in the Maldives. We recommend IATI Insurance as they have reasonable prices and excellent coverage of activities, including water sports. As a reader of Broken Navigation, you get an exclusive 5% discount for any insurance plan with IATI Insurance. 

Get your 5% discount for travel insurance with IATI here.

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INTERNET

Wifi in Fulidhoo was slower than in Dhiffushi. However, it still worked pretty well. We didn’t have a local sim card as every hotel and restaurant had decent wifi, which was ok for working and watching movies. So, pretty good. If you still want a local sim card, the best place to get it is after arrival at the airport or in Malé or Hulhumalé. 

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MONEY & ATM

The currency in Maldives is Maldive Rufiyaa (MVR). The official rate in October 2022 was 1$ = 15.4 MVR.

The best is to exchange money on the black market in Malé in one of the souvenir shops ($1=17 MVR). And also, right after arrival at the airport, exchange money guys approached us. Their rate was 16 MVR for $1. 

As you can see, the best rate is in Malé. If you plan on exploring the capital of Maldives, which by the way, you should do, as the fish market and fruit market are like nowhere else in Maldives: you can exchange money there. 

ATM/CASH/CARDS

There is no ATM on Fulidhoo island. That means you need to bring enough cash for your whole stay. Think about your next move; if you continue to some other small islands, there also might not be ATM. If you, like us, go to Maafushi, then you don’t have to worry about it, as in Maafushi, there are ATMs.

Maldive Rufiyaa and US dollars are accepted everywhere in Fulidhoo. But bear in mind that if you pay in US dollars, they use the official bank exchange rate: $1 = MVR 15. Therefore, you should exchange money in Malé and bring enough Rufyias with you. 

Some places accept cards but don’t rely on them. 

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PRICES IN FULIDHOO

Fulidhoo is a budget island in the Maldives. It is not the cheapest one, but it is for sure very close to being the ultimate budget destination if you consider what you get for what you pay. Check the price examples below: 

• Bread 10 MVR ($0.6)
• Can of tuna 19 MVR ($1.2)
• Pack of Indian snacks 10 MVR ($0.6)
• Small jar of Nutella 45 MVR ($3)
• 1l orange juice 35 MVR ($2.3)
• Food in the restaurant: 30-175 MVR ($2-12)
• Tuna sandwich 30 MVR ($2)
• Fried Rice 60 MVR ($4)
• Burger 100 MVR ($6.5)
• Pizza 150 MVR ($9.5)
• Hotels from $45 (off-season)
• Snorkelling tour $40

You can expect to pay $45 for a budget hotel with breakfast for two people in the off-season. Make your sandwiches from goods from the supermarket, which won’t cost you more than $6 for two people, or eat in the Dream Hut restaurant.

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OUR EXACT PRICE BREAKDOWN

This price breakdown is calculated based on all expenses we had in Maldives during our 13 days of travelling. Other islands we visited (Malé, Hulhumalé, Dhiffushi and Maafushi) were slightly more expensive than Dhiffushi, so if you would only stay in Dhiffushi, you can expect to even lower this budget. All prices below are already calculated for two people.

• Return flight from Abu Dhabi: $420
• Total transport: $28
• Food and snacks: $100
• Accommodation:

Hulhumalé 1 night: $50
Dhiffushi 6 nights: $180
Fulidhoo 4 nights: $220
Maafushi 1 night: $40

The total is $1038 for two people and 13 days in the Maldives, which is $39 per person per day! Including all costs, isn’t it crazy?

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WHERE TO STAY IN FULIDHOO

Since Fulidhoo is a very small island, you don’t need to worry if your place is in the right location. Very likely, you will stay very close to the beach. Most hotels we saw in Fulidhoo looked very clean and well taken care of, so for this travel guide, we picked the ones we liked the most. 

Budget I Alkina Lodge – Alkina Lodge is the cheapest hotel on Fulidhoo Island; rooms are clean, wifi works well, and Maldivian breakfast is included. It is by the main street in Fulidhoo. 

Mid-Range I Fulidhoo Ihaa Lodge – we stayed in this lodge, and it was a great decision. It is a family-run place with lovely owners who ensure you feel welcomed and happy during your stay. Breakfast is filling, and you can choose between continental and Maldivian. Obviously, the Maldivian one is the way to go, yum! Ihaa lodge is just a few steps from north beach, and you can hang out on one of the swings hanging down from the palm trees. There are only three rooms; therefore, the place is very quiet and comfortable. Not to forget to mention the welcome drink we got! Lovely place. Ihaa lodge also provides personalized tours; they can borrow you a GoPro, so you can make your own content while there, in case you don’t have an underwater camera. 

Luxury I Kinan Retreat – we admired the beauty of Kinan Retreat every time we passed. This place is on the main Bikini beach, so the views can’t get any better; half or full board is included in the price, making it very convenient. The rooms are modern, with a balcony with one of the best views on Fulidhoo island. 

What do you think? Is Fulidhoo a paradise on earth you must see with your own eyes? For us, it was one of the best tropical islands we’ve ever visited. If you want to know something we didn’t cover in this post, let us know below in the comments. 

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